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Group 2 Dodge Challenger echoes past SCCA racers

Among muscle cars--even among Dodge Challengers, new or old--the Classic Design Concepts Group 2 Challenger stands out. Winner of the Chrysler Design Excellence Award at the 2008 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas last November, the Group 2 Challenger moves from concept to production this month as Michigan-based Classic Design Concepts begins building its version of the Dodge performance coupe. The Group 2 appearance package, inspired by the wide-body SCCA Trans-Am Group 2 race cars of the 1960s and '70s, includes custom carbon-composite lightweight front fenders and billboard-style rear fenders, aerodynamic front spoiler wings, Group 2 badging and mongo 20-inch wheels and tires.

Lexus future products: Sedans will be redone by spring 2013

Lexus sales have slipped behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz this year, but the next few years will show what kind of counterpunch Toyota's luxury brand can deliver. The passenger-car lineup will be made over by the spring of 2013, as the GS, ES, IS and LS sedans will all be either redesigned or re-engineered. But there are challenges.

Maserati Levante SUV won't be imported from Detroit after all

For years, we've been hearing that the upcoming Maserati Levante SUV -- which debuted as the Maserati Kubang -- would be built at Chrysler's Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. The prospect of a high-dollar luxury crossover coming out of the gritty Motor City was intriguing, but the scheme made a certain sense -- the Levante is built on the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Unfortunately, it's not gonna happen.